19 



and $1 to $1.50 per day without board. There is an increase in 

 the acreage of potatoes. 



Stitton (0. P. Johnson). — The season is from ten days to two 

 weeks late. The promise for pastures and mowing is good and 

 fall seeding wintered fairly well. The fruit bloom compares very 

 favorably with the normal. No insects doing damage as yet. 

 Very little spraying is done, but I think it will increase. Wages 

 are from Sl2 to $20 per month with board and $2o to $36 without. 

 No changes in the acreage of farm crops are apparent as yet. 



Northhridge (H. A. Cook). — The season is about two weeks 

 late. Pastures and mowings are looking finely and fall seeding 

 wintered well. The fruit bloom is fully up to the average of bear- 

 ing years. Tent caterpillars are doing some damage. Very little 

 is done in spraying except on small fruits. Farm help is very 

 scarce and it is almost impossible to get good help. Help is hired 

 mostly by the day without board, at from $1.25 to $1.33 per day 

 of ten hours. The same old ruts are followed and there are no 

 new enterprises. 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 



Hopkinton (W. V. Thompson). — Pastures and mowings prom- 

 ise well and fall seeding wintered well. Fruit trees made a full 

 bloom. Canker worms are doing some damage. A few have 

 sprayed their fruit trees. There is not much farm help hired in 

 this locality. There are no marked changes in the acreage of farm 

 crops and I know of no new enterprises in agriculture. 



Marlborough (E. D. Howe). — The season is fully up to the 

 normal. Pastures and mowings look well and fall seeding prom- 

 ises well. The fruit bloom is equal to that of two years ago. 

 Tent caterpillars are doing a little damage. About one-fourth of 

 our farmers spray their fruit trees, but there is no great increase. 

 Help is quite plenty and about one-fourth of it is good. Twenty- 

 five dollars per month and $1.75 per day are the highest wages 

 paid. There are no marked changes in acreage of farm crops and 

 no new enterprises. 



Maynard (L. H. Matnard). — The season compares favorably 

 with the normal. Pastures and mowings promise well and fall 

 seeding wintered well. The fruit bloom looks nearly as well as in 

 1896. Tent caterpillars and currant worms are doing some dam- 

 age. I have not heard of any spraying so far this season. Farm 

 help is plenty, mostly Swedes and Danes, and is fairly good help. 

 Wages are from $15 to $20 per month with board, day labor from 

 $1 to $1.25. No new enterprises nor any marked change in acre- 

 age of crops. 



